Atheist converts to Christianity. Why? Compassion.

This should be a no-brainer, but it isn’t. This guy was suing a town for having a nativity display. This kind of thing riles many conservative Christians I know. But then the man started to go blind so he dropped the lawsuit. And the Baptist church in town raised thousands of dollars to help him with his medical bills.

Then the guy became a Christian. To be sure, he became a liberal Christian who disagrees with God’s word about homosexuality. But now he’s buying the star to put on top of the nativity display he once tried to make illegal.

What changed his mind about Christianity? Arguments? Apologetics? Sermons? No. The Holy Spirit moved some Christians to show compassion.

19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

The martyria/witness of Christians made him willing to hear the word of God he had been resisting. I pray that that kind of compassion would characterize me and my congregation.